Cool Science

Tracking skyscraper-high waves across the globe

The sea is full of “internal waves,” subsea cousins of surface waves you’ve seen on beaches. Learn more about the research on understanding these waves and their impact on the ocean
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Coral Reefs, Underwater Springs and OA

Ocean acidification reduces the density of coral skeletons, making coral reefs more vulnerable to disruption and erosion, according to a new study of corals growing where submarine springs naturally lower the pH of seawater.
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New antibiotic found in ocean sediment

A completely new and unusual antibiotic compound has been extracted from a marine microorganism found in sediments off the coast of California.
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Sea Urchin's and Ocean Acidification

Stanford scientists have discovered that some purple sea urchins living along the coast of California and Oregon have the surprising ability to rapidly evolve in acidic ocean water -- a capacity that may come in handy as climate change increases ocean acidity.
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Sockeye salmon sense magnetic field of home

Research suggests salmon use the Earth's magnetic field to navigate across the ocean as they return to their home rivers to breed.
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Critically endangered whales sing like birds; new

When a University of Washington researcher listened to the audio picked up by a recording device that spent a year in the icy waters off the east coast of Greenland, she was stunned at what she heard...
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Invisible Plastic Particles in Seawater Damaging

Plastic nanoparticles in seawater can have an adverse effect on sea organisms. Particles measuring about a thirty millionth of a millimetre, and therefore invisible to the naked eye, are responsible.
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West Antarctic Ice Sheet warming twice earlier est

A new analysis of temperature records indicates that the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet is warming nearly twice as fast as previously thought.
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Beneath Arctic Ice, Life Blooms Spectacularly

Scientists have discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice.
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Robotic fish to monitor pollution in UK harbours

The cost of water pollution in the UK runs into millions of pounds each year, and it can cause untold damage to the environment.
But now scientists have come up with an unusual solution to monitor the problem and it comes in the shape of a robotic fish.
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Where's The Octopus

Into The Abyss

A new generation of explorers are seeking to plunge through nearly seven miles of seawater to the bottom of a rocky chasm in the western Pacific that is veiled in perpetual darkness. It is the ocean’s deepest spot.
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Marine census marks decade of discovery

The international project involved more than 2,700 researchers from 80 nations, who spent a total of 9,000 days at sea during at least 540 expeditions. It has been described as the most comprehensive study of its kind.
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Octopuses carry coconut shells as instant shelter

Explore the ocean with google earth

With ocean in Google Earth, you can dive beneath the surface and visit the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, explore the ocean with top marine experts including National Geographic and BBC , learn about ocean observations, climate change, and endangered species discover new places including surf, dive, and travel hot spots and shipwrecks
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Fish with a transparent head

Underwater Volcano Erupts Off Tonga

T-REX OF THE OCEAN

An international team of paleontologists have unearthed the partial skull of a 50 ft marine reptile on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard . Dubbed 'Predator X', the marine reptile is a new species of pliosaur, an apex predator...
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'Hot Spot' For Toxic Harmful Algae

A part of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which separates Washington state from Canada's British Columbia, is a potential "hot spot" for toxic harmful algal blooms affecting the Washington and British Columbia coasts.
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Diversity and Size

Animal Families With The Most Diversity Also Have Widest Range Of Size
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UW Oceanographers in the Bering Sea!

UW Oceanography researchers and students are in the Bering Sea studying how sea-ice changes affect this rich ecosystem.
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Seattle Aquarium unveils coral grown in-house

"The Seattle Aquarium recently unveiled its first large exhibit devoted to corals grown in its laboratory. The 2,500-gallon tank, located halfway through a meandering corridor showcasing tropical fish, invertebrates and plants, now is filled with nearly 20 different coral species mostly grown in-house."
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Robot sub aims for deepest ocean

A robotic submarine is undergoing final preparations to dive to the deepest-known part of the oceans. If successful, Nereus will be the first autonomous vehicle to visit the 11,000m (36,089ft) Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean.
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Puget Sound Abalone

Volunteer Fish Counters in Puget Sound

"As the nation prepares for the 2010 Census, there's another inventory going on right now in Western Washington. The only difference is this census is taking place underwater. Recreational divers have volunteered as fish counters to help survey the fish populations in Puget Sound"
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Endangered blue whales resurfacing in Alaska

"Blue whales are returning to Alaska and could be re-establishing an old migration route several decades after they were nearly wiped out by commercial whalers, scientists say."
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High Carbon Dioxide Levels Cause Large Fish Ears

"A brief paper published in the June 26 issue of the journal Science describes experiments in which fish that were exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide experienced abnormally large growth in their otoliths, or ear bones. Otoliths serve a vital function in fish by helping them sense orientation and acceleration."
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Beach naturalists show off Puget Sound beaches

Students Race Human Powered Subs

"Student submariners gather at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Maryland to compete in a race that tests their engineering skillsand ability to pedal under water"
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Science Comes To Life for Middle School Students

How fish survive, where oil spills are, and what exactly is going on in our oceans were just some of the things some local middle schoolers got the chance to learn this week at NOAA science camp.
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The Important Little Life of Dylan Diatom

University of Washington's Applied Physics Lab reaches out to kids with freewheelin' 'Dylan Diatom' in the arctic animation
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Around the Americas expedition

The Around the Americas Mission: "Our mission is to build awareness throughout the Americas of increasing threats to our fragile ocean environment and to mobilize North and South Americans to take action to improve the health of our oceans."
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Tribe reintroduces sockeye to Lake Cle Elum

For the first time in more than 100 years, Lake Cle Elum's sandy shorelines and streams will erupt in crimson patches late this summer as sockeye salmon turn from silver to red in preparation for spawning.
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TWO MINUTES OF COOL SCIENCE

Got two minutes? Click anything below and be prepared to be wowed.

Tracking skyscraper-high waves across the globe
The sea is full of “internal waves,” subsea cousins of surface waves you’ve seen on beaches. Learn more about the research on understanding these waves and their impact on the ocean

Coral Reefs, Underwater Springs and OA
Ocean acidification reduces the density of coral skeletons, making coral reefs more vulnerable to disruption and erosion, according to a new study of corals growing where submarine springs naturally lower the pH of seawater.

Sea Urchin's and Ocean Acidification
Stanford scientists have discovered that some purple sea urchins living along the coast of California and Oregon have the surprising ability to rapidly evolve in acidic ocean water -- a capacity that may come in handy as climate change increases ocean acidity.

Critically endangered whales sing like birds; new
When a University of Washington researcher listened to the audio picked up by a recording device that spent a year in the icy waters off the east coast of Greenland, she was stunned at what she heard...

Invisible Plastic Particles in Seawater Damaging
Plastic nanoparticles in seawater can have an adverse effect on sea organisms. Particles measuring about a thirty millionth of a millimetre, and therefore invisible to the naked eye, are responsible.

Beneath Arctic Ice, Life Blooms Spectacularly
Scientists have discovered a massive bloom of phytoplankton beneath ice-covered Arctic waters. Until now, sea ice was thought to block sunlight and limit the growth of microscopic marine plants living under the ice.

Robotic fish to monitor pollution in UK harbours
The cost of water pollution in the UK runs into millions of pounds each year, and it can cause untold damage to the environment.
But now scientists have come up with an unusual solution to monitor the problem and it comes in the shape of a robotic fish.

Where's The Octopus
Roger Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are masters of optical illusion.

Into The Abyss
A new generation of explorers are seeking to plunge through nearly seven miles of seawater to the bottom of a rocky chasm in the western Pacific that is veiled in perpetual darkness. It is the ocean’s deepest spot.

Marine census marks decade of discovery
The international project involved more than 2,700 researchers from 80 nations, who spent a total of 9,000 days at sea during at least 540 expeditions. It has been described as the most comprehensive study of its kind.

Science Comes To Life for Middle School Students
How fish survive, where oil spills are, and what exactly is going on in our oceans were just some of the things some local middle schoolers got the chance to learn this week at NOAA science camp.

Around the Americas expedition
The Around the Americas Mission: "Our mission is to build awareness throughout the Americas of increasing threats to our fragile ocean environment and to mobilize North and South Americans to take action to improve the health of our oceans."

Tribe reintroduces sockeye to Lake Cle Elum
For the first time in more than 100 years, Lake Cle Elum's sandy shorelines and streams will erupt in crimson patches late this summer as sockeye salmon turn from silver to red in preparation for spawning.